i said, mr. president, that is the right call. >> reporter: romney squeezed in ralliesen avon lake, ohio, and davenport, iowa, before pressing pause on this campaign. >> hopefully your thought and prayers will join with me and people across the country when you think about folks that are in harm's way. we love our fellow americans. wish them well. >> this is the closest election since modern polling began in 1936. with the candidates averaging a 48% to 48%, tie, since september. and in the perfect storm of an election comes this storm, slicing a path through battleground state, north carolina, virginia, ohio, and new hampshire. potentially impacting early voting. and who knows where the recovery from the storm will be one week from tomorrow. thus the candidates are trying to project leadership. >> speaking today with the national weather service and folks at fema they're preparing for the landfall of a very, very dangerous hurricane. >> reporter: a tougher task perhaps for the candidate who does